Lags’ sneaky drug drops

Lags’ sneaky drug drops

Prisoners are using dental floss to smuggle supplies and drugs into prison

We believe the scheme was mostly used at night and nobody has any idea how long it was in operation.

A Daily Star source

They fire them beyond the prison walls with makeshift rubber-band catapults.

Crooks on the outside then tie on packages before they are reeled back inside.

The scheme was uncovered at Leeds prison after guards were tipped off about narcotics being smuggled in.

Prison officials have no idea how long the catapults have been in use at the category B jail, which holds 1,004 men.

A source said: “The rubber bands are used to help prisoners exercise and stretch after arm and leg injuries.

“But some inmates adapted them to fire a line over the perimeter wall. They then reel the lines back in and the drugs are hidden in cells.

“We believe the scheme was mostly used at night and nobody has any idea how long it was in operation.

“It could easily have been used to bring dozens of packages into the prison. It’s ingenious but drugs in jails are a big threat to security.”

A recent Prison Service memo referring to the rubber bands stated: “HMP Leeds has brought to our attention the fact ­prisoners there are adapting them for use as catapults for the purpose of capturing contraband supplied by criminal associates positioned immediately beyond the prison’s perimeter.”

Inmates often tie nail clippers to the end of the floss to make it easier to fire from the catapult.

The memo said: “The associate ties the contraband to the line, which is then reeled back over the perimeter to the prisoner. Dental floss is used as it is durable and virtually invisible to the naked eye.”

Mark Freeman, of the Prison Officers Association, said: “Smuggling methods change all the time. Our members do an ­excellent job but cuts mean it is more and more difficult to cover all eventualities.”

Drugs and mobile phones are the most sought-after illicit items behind bars.

Toy helicopters and small ­rockets have been used to fly in supplies and they have even been hidden beneath the paint on ­pictures.